Student selection criteria for the study of architecture : with special reference to Iran.

The underlying aim of this research is to gain a better knowledge of the relationship
between the selection criteria and academic performance of the students of
architecture; and the specific aim is to evaluate and improve the methods of student
selection in Iranian schools of architecture. The thesis consists of three parts.
The first part (Chapters 1 to 3) prepares the theoretical ground for the study.
Chapter 1 introduces the general issues of student selection, and Chapter 2
presents a review of the related studies. To supplement the review, a survey was
conducted to learn about the present state of affairs in a number of university
schools of architecture. Describing this survey, Chapter Three reports differing
views on the selection criteria and procedures, and the lack of objective knowledge
on this subject.
The second part (Chapters 4 to 6) is a close examination of two different student
selection methods in Iran by means of a qualitative and a quantitative survey.
Chapter Four describes the educational practices in Iran which form the background
to the case studies. Chapter Five is a quantitative study on the relationship between
selection criteria and the subsequent academic performance of the selected
students. The possibility of significant non-academic differences between groups of
students who were selected through two different methods, and also the predictive
ability of some non-academic variables, are studied in a qualitative survey in
Chapter Six.
In the third part (Chapter 7) various findings of the previous chapters are brought
together.
It is concluded that the choice between alternative selection methods is more a
matter of compromise than perfection. However, the research findings call into
question some of the assumptions of the currently applied selection methods. For
instance, little evidence was found to support the customary application of an
identical entrance examination for all schools of architecture. Moreover, evidence
was found for the noticeable relationship between the academic performance of the
students and some non-academic characteristics which the rigid academic selection
criteria tend to overlook.
Finally, some recommendations are proposed for the improvement of selection
procedures for the study of architecture in Iran.